What is Cord-cutting?
Cord-cutting is the act of doing away with expensive cable subscriptions and changing to a low or no-cost TV channel subscription through the use of an antenna or Internet service.
Cable subscriptions can be expensive, but many people are learning how to replace their viewing entertainment with over-the-air free broadcasting through an antenna or over-the-top low-cost broadcasting through an internet service. In fact, the number of people subscribing to cable TV is declining and is a trend the industry is watching closely.
Free TV
Using an antenna to receive free television is one of the easiest ways to implement cord cutting. All TV manufactured after 2007 have a digital tuner. Digital tuners are necessary since all TV broadcasts are digital, not analog. With a digital tuner, you can receive many channels without being connected to a traditional cable service. These tuners are also built into 36” or larger TVs that were manufactured after 2005, and 25” or larger TVs that were manufactured after 2006.
If your TV has a built in digital tuner, then you can use an antenna and plug the antenna's coaxial cable directly into your TV. If it is not equipped with a built in digital tuner, you can purchase a digital converter box, VCR, DVD player, or DVR equipped with a digital tuner. However, with TV prices being pretty low, it's probably better just to replace your TV.
To install an antenna, you won't need to crawl on a roof. TV broadcasts are now digital, and you can purchase a high-quality antenna like the Mohu Leaf Paper-Thin Indoor HDTV Antenna for less than $50. This antenna is about the size of a wall calendar, and I just hung it on a wall next to a window.
Once connected to an antenna, you can start watching free broadcast TV by scanning for free broadcast channels. The scan is done through the “menu” on the television, and automatically scans for channels that are picked up by the digital tuner. Once the scan is complete, you won't need to scan again unless the tuner gets disconnected. This was great when Time-Warner was blocking CBS broadcasts.
Internet TV
Internet service is a staple in any home that utilizes a computer or other tech devices, and can easily be used to watch a multitude of television shows and movies. There are a few mainstream ways to make viewing possible. First, users can purchase a separate receiver box such as Roku or Apple TV. These devices make it possible for users to watch television available through Internet services.
Netflix and Hulu
Options include a subscription to Netflix or Hulu, two of the most popular services, which contain thousands of movies and television shows that can be watched instantly. These services include the ability to pause and rewind on demand, search, and setup a watch list. When watching a TV series, Netflix and Hulu allow you to watch one episode after another, all without commercial breaks. This has given rise to the popular term "binge watching."
The other option is using a smart TV with the built-in capability to access application channels like Netflix and Hulu, eliminating the need for a separate receiver. Most BluRay and DVD players offer the option to access these channels, and the latest console game player devices usually include Netflix and Hulu now.
Other Internet TV Channels
Though Netflix and Hulu are two of the most popular application channels, they do require a low-cost subscription. Many application channels, such as Crackle, PBS, HuffPost, PBS Kids, and various news stations are available for free if the user has an appropriate receiver. Using your Internet connection and these services, you can view many popular television shows, movies, and newscasts. This can save the user about a hundred dollars each month depending on the cable plan to which they currently subscribe. An extra benefit these application channels provide is the lack of commercials.
Amazon and Google
Amazon's Prime is a service that works using Amazon Kindle Fire devices and plays TV shows and movies on certain portable Kindle devices. Amazon, Apple, and Google also have content stores where you can purchase individual TV shows, series, and movies and download this content to your computer.
The latest entry into cord-cutting is Google with their Chromecast accessory. For about $35, this accessory plugs into a USB connector on your TV set and then connects to your home WiFi network. Using the Google Chrome browser, you can send your content to the Chromecast device and play it on your TV set.
Cord-cutting is becoming easier, offers more flexible options, and makes in-home entertainment available for a fraction of the cost than a monthly cable bill.
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